Concern Students of Koforidua Polytechnic here in (CSKP), has written an open letter to the Chief of Staff, asking him to come to their aid of what they described as “heavy” utility levies charged by the management of the institution.
The students revealed that the authority of the school had asked every student to pay one hundred and ninety-one Ghana Cedis (GhC191.00) to defray utility bills owed by the institution.
And that according to the group, was a pre-requisite condition for students’ registration for the second semester, starting from 15th February, 2016, implying that, failure to pay will not be registered.
“Our engagement with the school’s management reveals that utility companies have ever since the beginning of this academic year pestered the school to offset utility bills owed by the school or risk a disconnection. This explanation according to management forms the basis of its decision to shoot down the throats of students charges for utility”.
The above explanation is quite curious and raises a lot of questions that beg for answers. The curiosity emanates from the fact that as a matter of public opinion, government has severally reaffirmed its position to pay for utility bills in tertiary institutions. As far as we CSKP are concerned, government has not amended its earlier position but has rather amplified its position on the said matter through the Ministry of Education. It is therefore intriguing when management justifies its position with the excuse earlier on stated.
“Can it be said that, management is not apprised with the decision of government or management is egregiously defying government’s directives or management is only visiting its spleen on innocent students as a result of government’s failure to fulfill its obligation? What is the true state of affairs on the matter? Our interaction with the Ministry of Education in our frantic efforts to resolve the issue did not look promising”, they queried.
The students stated that, “whatever the situation may be, the consequences of this move by management cannot be overemphasized. This decision is the one that will deepen the already existing financial woes in which students find themselves. Students are gaping to cope with the current financial commitments involved in schooling and cannot stand the shocks of such a thorny policy hence our resolve to petition your high office.
This decision if not reversed, smacks discrimination and selective implementation of government policies targeted at equally benefitting all”.
<<Print>>